Sir Madog Larry - never! I wish she´d be my granddaughter, but Ray is the blessed grandfather!
Larry - never! I wish she´d be my granddaughter, but Ray is the blessed grandfather!
OOPS! Thanks!
Sorry Ray.
Still till me its not true!
------------------------------
der5997: ISL is short for Industrial Switching Layout..I picked this up at a Advanced Layout Design meeting a while back.
A ISL is a layout based on industrial switching be it a single shelf,around the walls or the usual stand alone design and there is one industry per industrial siding..
The ISL is not based on the "Time Saver" or "Inglenook" switching puzzles designs since the ISL follows a prototypical design.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Good Diners! I'll have the chicken Panini and a bowl of the squash soup please Zoe, Oh, and a JR Regular - and I think you'd better scoot over the -thank you kindly. Why, Dear Diners do I need the soapbox? Our toilets (upstairs and downstairs)started backing up on Wednesday, but seemed to clear overnight. Thursday they miss-behaved again later in the day. Septic hasn't been pumped in some years, so is likely full. Who to call? Yellow Pages has a likely looking candidate - XYZ Company "We take Crap from anyone!" Serving all of HRM and surrounding areas. (Halifax Regional Municipality - an administrative district, area of 2,119.8 sq mi -see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Regional_Municipality and scroll down the Right Hand Side to the red blob on the map- Rhode Island is 1,214 sq mi, by way of comparison) Now, wouldn't you think that, as we live some 20-30 miles west of the eastern boundary of HRM, that would cover us? Yes, I thought you might, and so did we. Well, the ad should read "We take Crap from anyone so long as they don't live further away from us than we care to drive in half an hour." OK, so next up is a company that serves the Eastern Shore. That's where we live, let's give them a call. "We don't go as far as Sheet Harbour - we used to, but it's too much of a distance." So, the third candidate does come to Sheet Harbour, but charges extra to do so. Friday afternoon we were going into Dartmouth - and Jerry's Septic Service was coming 7:30 am Saturday because the dumping station closes at noon on Saturday. THAT meant having to uncover the septic tank on Friday morning - a thing I did not have in my long range (or any other) planner! Fortunately, that tank has always had a covering of either sawdust (as when we bought the house) or peat moss (our choice) and is reasonably light work to get at. I replaced the original plywood lid with pressure treated boards covered with a double sheet of plastic with a layer of old roof shingles to protect the plastic from spades when the peat moss is removed years ago - and there was only about an inch and a half of frost in the moss. So, the man came as scheduled, took only 20 minutes to complete the job, and went on his way $600 richer. (plus $90 taxes which he probably doesn't keep [mischief]) There goes Christmas plans to treat ourselves to a new TV as our old CRT one is dying.- and Robby we have Bell TV which used to be ExpressVu, and that had some association with Direct TV IIRC. Price keeps going up. Do we continue? Cable isn't available here, so satellite - or two snowy channels (CBC and CTV - both Halifax stations, and snowy on Peasant TV because of the aforementioned distance issues) showing 80% stuff we aren't interested in......Hmmm, hard choices.
OK Zoe, THAT feels better, I'm done with the box - thanks.
Ray:
John.... Obviously you know little about the Presbyterian Church..........
Jeff: Be glad you live in LA!
"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." --Department of Social Services, Greenville , South Carolina
Lee: Good haul at the show - 62 or 26, still a trainfull of hoppers! - and then the stash of loot in the train room
Garry: I was going to comment on the Prop, but I see Johnboy got there first!
Ulrich:
and a big from Petra and me! (Even if it is a little late now)
I seem to be in a somewhat sour mood. My recent contributions have a negative touch to them, so I will refrain from posting to other threads than this one.
The sender told me that "it would never work" and "you're a total idiot for even trying"
Larry: ISL? Couldn't find it in "Acronyms for Dummies" - could you expand it please? SL for Switching Layout? "I" for?
That's it for me - This afternoon looks like another "digging up sod for the Art Installations" in the Harbour. It's a fine day, and tomorrow is lousy weather - so we strike while the iron is warm, so to speak. Grand opening scheduled for Tuesday - so needs must when the weather guessers drive!
Mrr? Did get the optical fibres put in that signal the way I hoped they would work. Have to work out a centering mechanism for the bundle in the signal head (the diameter of that is larger than the inside of the mast, so the bundle is off centre left to itself. I'll have to pack it somehow.
TTFN
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Good Morning! Coffee and eggs over easy, bacon , hash browns and a bowl of grits please. Oh and bring some of that fresh salsa. Thank you. BLIZZAAAAAARD!!!! We’re having a Blizzard. No not just what people call a blizzard, but a real blizzard. Blizzards. I hate blizzards. I think using the word blizzard 6 times is enough. Oh, 7.
Good Morning! Coffee and eggs over easy, bacon , hash browns and a bowl of grits please. Oh and bring some of that fresh salsa. Thank you.
BLIZZAAAAAARD!!!! We’re having a Blizzard. No not just what people call a blizzard, but a real blizzard. Blizzards. I hate blizzards. I think using the word blizzard 6 times is enough. Oh, 7.
Happy Birthday (late) Lee!
Garry- Almost fooled me there. I was going to ask how they took that picture. Another plane?
Well, I’m not sure what to do today due to the blizzard (8). I must go see Mom in the horse piddle and get her mail. We need to hit the grocery store for a few things for us and some dog treats. And then also take back a collar we picked up for the fat neck dog. Who, by the way, is fast asleep at my side with her little empty rubber treat bone clasped in her front paws. Plus, It’s Sunday and the usual day I take Brenda out to eat. Special day for her. I do it to give her a break and make it at least 7days a week she doesn’t have to cook.
One things for sure. This is a perfect day to hit the train room, but that won’t probably happen. BUT! It may yet this evening. I should stop off at Mom’s house and dump a few more things into the current dumpster as someone stopped by yesterdee and ask if he could take some 2X4’s for some shelving he was putting up in his garage. SURE! I said take all you want. He did. Almost all of them so I can fit more in the dumpster now. Maybe the blizzard (9) will die down this afternoon and on the way back I can stop off and do that.
Oh well, gonna stop in at “the bay” see what’s for sale and won’t buy, then check the weather again and see when to venture out. Maybe I will stop in the train room and see what I need to do. Cleaning up a bit I do know it needs.
Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Good Morning All!
Ulrich,Such a sweet lil' angel like that in trouble? Please tell me its not so!
Not much to report from the land of Buckeyes other then its snowing and we expecting 2-4".As far as modeling yesterday I sit up a mock Slate Creek using the industries I built and Athearn BB boxes.I wasn't quite please so,I will keep playing "Rotation" till I find the right combination and when I dod I will start the track work.A modern ISL based on the prototype isn't as easy as it looks even using Lance Mindheim's "How To Design A Small Switching Layout" book as a reference guide.. I shall have a cup and look over the forum.Have a good'un!
We have a 21 mph NW wind blowing here. That makes the 40° out there feel like 32°. Not surprisingly we have a fire weather warning in effect. There's also a freeze warning in effect for tonight. The expected low is 25° to 22°. Guess I better get out there and pack the water meter well with pine straw so it will be insulated from the cold.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Good morning. It's 40° and partly cloudy but feels like 30°. The high is supposed to be 50° and it will be mostly sunny though it will feel like 40° thanks to the wind.I got the rest of the track locked in place with the drywall compound yesterday. Now I just have to wait for it to dry then cut off the high spots. Once that's done I can paint the drywall compound to match the ballast that will be on top of it later. I got a message yesterday on another forum concerning my decoder install on my new GP38-2. What I did on that was to leave the cheap Bachmann decoder in place to operate the lights since the Digitrax decoder I was putting in had a non-functional light circuit and would be just running the motor. The sender told me that "it would never work" and "you're a total idiot for even trying" and "you can't run two decoders in one locomotive". Wonder how he/she/it thinks separate decoders for motion and sound work then. The wording and overall tone of the message indicated to me that the sender had little idea of what they were talking about and demonstrated to me just how inexperienced/uninformed they were. I can't imagine what people like that think gives them the right to push their relative lack of knowledge on others as if it's the correct and written truth. Oh well, onward and upward. My sister and I went to Pizza Hut last night for dinner then went to see the Narnia 3D movie. Of all the 3D movies I've seen the 3D effects in this one are the best I've seen and there were several times I actually ducked as objects on the screen seemed to come hurtling out into the audience. Well worth the $11 admission fee in my opinion. I still have the second lot of HO items that have to go up for viewing. It includes several flatcars and boxcars. The list can be found at this link:
Bill, what time do you get up in the Mourning anyway?
Mourning Dinners.
Flo, bowel of Oat Meal and a glass of milk please.
We got our first snow today, I like snow. Not much more than a dusting, can still see a little of the grass. Sue is all ready complaining that she cannot drive in the stuff. Seems I am going to have to take her to Kohels Department store so she can use another $5.00 coupon. Sure hope they stop giving them out.
Train Front Stilson4283 (Chris) sent me a up dated plan for the future layout. He added a reversing loop and a wyn to the 3rd main line. Now If I can only figure out how to uses the 3rd Plan It software. Only thing I have figure out is how to run a train in he 3D mode. Pretty cool. But no way to save the plan as a JPG file. (I am using the free version)
See you all later today.
Ken
I hate Rust
Good rainy morning.
No snow till late tonight and all day tomorrow. Just a good day to be lazy.
Not much planned for me. Watch some football, and take it easy.
Lee.........Happy belated b-day. I didn't know it was.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good Morning
I'm up and getting ready to go to the train show here..
We are expecting another 4"-6" of the white stuff today--areas to the north of us are going to be in for even more snow--something upwards of 2 feet more--as if there was not enough
Ray: Her? Get into trouble? Naaaahh....
So, have a good day people ---
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good morning,
“Now does this look like a little girl who would be in trouble for long?” Now Ray that depends on what her hands are doing, can’t see what buttons she pushing, LOL.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, its 0713 and I’m heading out to do a patrol with the USCG AUX this morning. Currently pouring down rain and 39F outside, the reserved weather guessers are calling for 8” of snow by morning. SO that means we will have a period of freezing rain today then some snow.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
howmus Evenin' Folks! Flo, just a decaf for me tonight. I'll go sit in the back by the fire. 73
Evenin' Folks!
Flo, just a decaf for me tonight. I'll go sit in the back by the fire.
73
In trouble? No. Causing Heck yeah. That's the "I've got you fooled, and soon I'll have all your friends tricked too! They'll never see it coming! MWAHAHAHA!" face if ever I've seen it. Better tell Blackie to move over. Make room for the older sister too.
Remember, that's why Lassos and DUCK TAPE was invented? waterproofing? Bah. Those soldieers knew what would be at home, and wanted it on Sam's dime.
Oh, ans Ray, mightI observe that a fire in an enclosed railcar is a real BAD idea? As inviting as it sounds?
(My) evening folks. Ya, I know it's 630am, but on normal days, I'm just heading to bed after work anyways. Thought I'd share a picture with ya.
As dad said, "the only gig where I'm not old, fat, and grey enough for it." Merry Christmas!
-Morgan
Lunchtime!
Zoe, I´ll go for hot dogs and a , please.
Blessings!
I agree Ulrich! How can that face make you mad?
EDIT: I guess I got the tab, everthing is on me!
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
Good Morning,
Did not catch much sleep last night and feel kinda worn out.
Chloe, coffee in an IV bag, please!
Lee - and a big from Petra and me! (Even if it is a little late now)
Ray -
howmus
- I don´t think there is a way to be mad at someone who can give you this look! She is just adorable!
CUL, Folks!
Yes, Johnboy.
Here is the link to the Pima Air Museum in Tuscan......... It's really quite amazing! ... It's not trains but it is very near the UP mainline through Tuscan. ..... They have many planes. How about that SR71 Blackbird? The B17? The B29? The B36? The B47? The B52? ... The old Air Force One? ... The TWA Cosntellation?.......... Dozens more.... Even Russian MIG's. ... Copters, too. We were there for an afternoon.
http://www.pimaair.org/
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
We can see Garry, The Prop is spinning !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnboy out.......................for now
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Packers#1 Hey ladies and gents... Thought it was about time to poke my head in and say I'm not dead. Just been real worn out the past few weeks. Also ahven't had anything to do on the layout because I'm at a standstill until I ballast the track. but anyways, jsut wanted to say hola and that i'll try to check in more haha. I doubt I'll get top, but I got the tab fellas
Hey ladies and gents...
Thought it was about time to poke my head in and say I'm not dead. Just been real worn out the past few weeks. Also ahven't had anything to do on the layout because I'm at a standstill until I ballast the track. but anyways, jsut wanted to say hola and that i'll try to check in more haha.
I doubt I'll get top, but I got the tab fellas
Never made it downstairs to the layout today. My son showed up late morning to borrow the truck, then returned it mid afternoon and dropped off the granddaughters at the same time.... The next two hours ran me completely out of steam. Olivia was a very good girl and helped grandpa, but the little one, Emily Grace...... Talk about a ball of static electricity! Art said she would probably lay down and take a nap.... Yeah, Right! She was into everything, tried every button on every piece of electronic equipment...... Took all of my time just getting everything back working right again. Then she terrorized the cats for a while.... Blackie has taken a liking to her but today she was playing too rough. They both went and hid under my bed until the girls left. Both of them sat down for a while and drew some pictures for grandpa, but most of the time Emily was running through the house creating havoc. We then went out to a Mexican Restaurant here in town, whereupon Emily fell asleep in her chair....! Now does this look like a little girl who would be in trouble for long?
I think she has entered the terrible twos! She still has her grandpa's heart though, and gave me a big kiss when she left.
Printed up my Christmas Cards today and also the photos that will be included in them. Hopefully tomorrow after church I can get them all signed and stuffed in the envelopes ready to be mailed.
Sure hope you folks in the path of the storm this weekend stay warm and safe!
Catch you all later!
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Opps...23 hoppers not 63.
I normally pay $8/shaker from my LHS, but I'm stuck on a layout project and needed it for this weekends projects. I'll be taking an inventory and making an order next month....
Lee ... Just read the fine print in your post. HAPPY B'DAY! ... Sounds like you had a good trip to a train show. That's a lot of hoppers.
Ken ... That may end up being a very fun job! Congrats!
I was using frequent flyer points to AZ, and look at the accommodations ........
Actually, it's not real. It's a prop.
LSWrr Evening all, I needed some fine ballast so I stopped at Hobbytown on the way home. I will be sifting through this ballast to see if there is gold dust in the bottle somewhere… They were asking almost $14 for a shaker!
It's here for half that:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=None&Item=WDSBALLAST&ID=20010851
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Evening all,
Robby I went without satellite or cable for a while right after my divorce. I bought one DVD each payday and I was good to go for a while.
I went to the train show at Lakeland College today, almost a bust until I found a table selling blue box kits for $3 each. I bought 63 two day hoppers, unassembled and undecorated. These will receive the LS&W markings sometime after the holidays. I also picked up 4 more train signs; South Buffalo, Buffalo Creek, Lackawanna, and Akron-Canton & Youngstown. I also found WS Hall & Duke and a set of WS roofers cheap.
I needed some fine ballast so I stopped at Hobbytown on the way home. I will be sifting through this ballast to see if there is gold dust in the bottle somewhere… They were asking almost $14 for a shaker!
I thought Dorothy forgot about my birthday today but here she had hidden a over the top shop creeper and a hand full of micromark tools in the layout room for me.
Ok back to work, looks like rain then snow tomorrow. One weather guesser said Monday the snow will come in feet and NOAA said trace to 3”. Both agree the temps will be in the negative most of the week…
Ken- Just to be clear, mainly for my mind, I didn't think you were bellyaching. Just upset because of the way the sales pitch for the job went. I was just confused over who labeled the letter ......what ever you called it. Can't remember now what you called it. Odd.
G- Oh boy do I undestand what it's like to have to turn the furnace down. Had to do that a few times as a youth. We had propane also. When propane went through the roof, the coats weren't just for outside anymore. What I meant by disagreeing was I don't like it not you should not have to. Hope you didn't take it wrong.
You know,all in all, every one of us has something many people don't. There are many many people way far worse off than any of us here. That is something to be grateful for.
Check out the derailment video on the Some Bad Track thread.
Time for the Christmas party for the truckers. They are having it at the Restaurant uptown so I'll be on the recieving end tonight. PLUS. I don't have to drive but a few blocks. Actually it's halfway across town, but that's only a few blocks.
Been raining today most all day and now the temps are dropping like Presidential supporters. Gonna get icy I'm a feered. Hope not. I hate ice except in my soft drinks.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Better to say hello, before the Diner disappears into the nirvana of page 2
Zoe, as I am burning midnight oil again, would you please care to get me my usual insomnia special?
Ken - cheer up, mate! It´s a job, a start into a normal life again, nothing more, but also nothing less. I am sure you will be doing fine!
Trying to have sleep catch me, now...
Afternoon folks.
Flo, I will take a Big Boy Sub, Tender of Fries and a Diet Dew.
Todd I was missed led during the first interview. I was told it was $10.00 a hour + commission. Now I knew I would not earn any commission during training. But I figured I would make the $10.00 a hour, won't you? If I had been told up front about the $360.00 a week during training I would have felt different about things.
I all so understand why they do it! To get on the floor (start selling) you have to pass a test. Some people would be happy with the $400 a week. (if they are, there not sales people) So, that is why they have it set up to where you have to pass the test to get the $400.00 a week.
Galaxy I am sorry you have had a tuff life, I have been there my self. Twice in my life my 68 Road Runner was my transportation and home.
Far as hours worked, this is my first job scenes I was 26 that is 40 hours. From 27 till 54 years old I have worked 50 plus hours a week.
My self, I can get along with out much of anything. My wife on the other hand is spoiled. Cannot get her to turn lights or TV off when she leaves the room, keep the heat down or buy economically priced food. Like we really need the silly Steakem's sandwiches or Corn Dogs.
Far as her gas mileage, I wished it was because of speeding! She cannot keep a constant speed, accelerate, slow down, accelerate, slow down. Our Town Car will tell you how many miles of gas you have left, average MPG, instant MPG, and trip. I all wise have it on instant MPG, she all wise has it set to how many miles is left in gas.
Far as the new job. I am going to look at it has a opportunity. I am a good salesperson and have no reason to believe I won't make a good living there. Plus, it is only 6 miles from home! That sure will help with gas money.
No more belly aching, it is what it is. Think it was more of the shock of finding out the way I did than anything!
Trains are running great today. Using the mine section as a stand a lone (C Line), and not part of the A Line. Have two short steam engines running on the closed loop A line. Track seems a lot longer running 2 10 car trains, then 2 20 car trains!
Heading to the LHS and the Library.
See you all for dinner.
Ken.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood (I guess) Morning.
JP: Yup, 'sposed to be blizzarding later today. We be getting rain, rain, and more rain so far. My guess is it is to ensure THAT all of the salt brine the IDiOT (Iowa Dept. of Transportation) put down on the highways yesterday...gets thoroughly washed away before the rain freezes and the s**w starts. Which means, we'll have a lovely layer of ice, then s**w, then blowing/drifting s**w, then sub-zero cold followed by a week's worth of temperatures too low too allow road salt to do it's thing.
I hate living in Iowa some days... Specifically From about Nov. 1 to April 30 (s**w season). I also hate living in Iowa from June 1 to Sept. 30 (hot season).
GALAXY, CUDA KEN, et. al: 50 degrees on the thermostat??? Been there. Done THAT. This old house still has the old, very old oil-burning furnace, mostly original (drafty) windows, and other "issues." So...to run the furnace meant setting the thermostat at 50. Yes, it was cold in the house. Yes, we wore coats inside. But...we made it through. With oil prices this year currently over $3/gallon....the furnace is off. We have strategically deployed space heaters, which brings individual room temps. up to a very comfortable 70 degrees. The Wife figured we SAVED over $2,000 last year by doing this vs. trying to cough-up the bucks to buy oil (cash on delivery).
I had a much, much longer rant...but decided against it. I'm all for helping those truly in need...not a problem with THAT. I also agree with...Ben Franklin (I think it was) who warned against "making people comfortable in their poverty."
KEN, I truly wish you the best of luck in THAT new job. For whatever it's worth (maybe nothing at all) I've had a number of J*O*B's: THAT's "Just Obtaining Bucks" over the years, because I was out of w**K, and needed something/anything to pay the bills. I also sold-off a bunch of stuff on theBay as well to keep up on payments and bills. I sold-off some things I really didn't want to...but to keep "current" on bills/payments, "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." I've been grunt labor at a tree farm, grunt labor at an auction house ($8/hr. no bennies, all the abuse you could take), I've delivered and assembled office furniture (only guy on the crew WITHOUT a criminal record...), delivered/serviced/sold/rented home medical equipment and supplies, and now part-time for life reporter/photographer. Maybe, just maybe our new owner will make it full-time.
THAT's right boys and girls... Mr. Publisher and Mrs. THAT Editor have been trying to sell the newspapers. Last we heard, the deal is "in the hands of the lawyers." Seems they voted for "hope and change," but when they realized the full impact on small business...especially starting 1 January, 20 and 11...they decided it wasn't such a good deal...for them. So, they moved up selling the operation by about 4-5 years. They are scrambling to get the deal sealed BEFORE 12/31/10, so starting 1/1/11...any/all new taxes, insurance requirements, regulations, etc. are ALL the new owner's problems... I guess they didn't get the "hope and change" they thought they were voting for... But, they were more than happy to share my "Christmas bonus" with the federal government. Yup yup. Got a surprise check yesterday at "Facetime." THAT Editor said it was a "Christmas bonus." 'Shore nuff...a nice little check, with a payroll stub. Seems they gave some to Social in-Security and some to Medicare as well!!!
Previous employers have just handed out cash... I don't want to sound ungrateful, heck, I wasn't expecting (I NEVER "expect" a bonus) anything especially in a year THAT saw our advertising go down the toilet; BUT I don't want to "share" it with the government either!!
I'm a-gonna grab a plate of cheeseburgers, a bucket of Coke, and have me a seat at the RC for a bit. With "no deeds to do, no promises to keep" at all this weekend...maybe, just maybe I can finish up the ex-Rock Island ballast hopper.
A good, SAFE day to us all,
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
TMarsh Sorry G-man, I’d love to give you some pep but I don’t seem to even have enough for me lately. Ken- ... BUT bright side…..you have a job. Makes for a more understanding bank sometimes too....I agree with G, well, except for the 50degree thing. ...
Sorry G-man, I’d love to give you some pep but I don’t seem to even have enough for me lately.
Ken- ... BUT bright side…..you have a job. Makes for a more understanding bank sometimes too....I agree with G, well, except for the 50degree thing. ...
I'll have to tell you all sonehting that may make you stop crying in your {soup kitchen} soup. It's no secret I am on disability. Before I got my disability approved finally after three tries and going through 2 levels of hoops twice, and 3 levels of hoops to see an Administration Law Judge the third time who approved my disability claim, I had to live on welfare. It took me a year of panhandling to get welfare as i was considered "able bodied single male with no children", even with my pending disability application.
I got $325/month to pay rent, electricity and {some} heat. I got $75/month in food stamps. I had NO CHOICE but to keep the heat set at 50* from onset of cold to about the middle of Dec. until I got my HEAP {Home Energy Assistance Program} AWard letter to tell me how much more propane I could afford for the rest of the winter based on the price it was at.Then, and only then could I change the 50* setting, but by mid-March, I had to turn back down the heat to 50* to save some propane to start off the following winter. EAch fillup came with cash payment required on delivery.
The rent was $250, paid in 2 installments as my $325 came in bimonthly installments. I was fortunate enugh to rent a dump of a drafty cottage with an understanding landlord who allowed me bimonthly payments without charging late fee. But boy was he there at the door with hand out on the 1st and the 15th. My electric I had to hold to $25 a month, allowing 1 30 gals of electric hot water a day and one light in the LR and a night light in the kit and bath to see by.One clock and the {air broadcast stations only} TV for rntertainment. I used the stove only once a day to heat somehting it was electric too.
I had no phone for a long time, people had to call my landlord who had to bring the cordless phone out to me...only my mother or other important DSS calls were allowed. When I got a phone it cost me $20 because I got a disount for having Medicaid.
The food stamps., although I shopped frugally didn't always last. I used to volunteer weekly at a food pantry I walked 5 miles to and from there to be able to bring home a bag of extra groceries a month. I would visit soup kitchens for extra hot meals, as I rarely used the electricity on the stove if I could avoid it adding to the electric bill,
I got medical care only what medicaid covered and scripts only that they covered. I had to save pennies to afford bus fair to get to DSS appointements. I used to go around collecting cans and bottles to take back for the nickel deposit.
I have had good insurance in my life, And had no insurance, and had Medicaid only, and have had medicare/medicaid. You get treated the worst on medicaid only as they only get a pittance of payment from the state... having no insurance is better as they assume that they can sue you and get maybe more out of you than medicaid woudl pay. I racked up about $100k inhospital bills before I got my disability nd medicare. I still have medicaid to pick up what medicare doesn't. but I PAY $172 a month out of my disability check to have that medicaid as secondary coverage to my medicare so I pay little out of pocket. Medicare at least they treat you good.
When I finally got approved for my SSD, teh amount of money was stageringly high compared to what I had be used to. Now it seems not enough.
My parents would sometimes help me out by buying much need things like toilet paper, tissues, toothpaste, laundry soap etc. adn occasionally clothes that foodstamps couldn't buy.
Now, MOH helps with teh bills, but MOH is low income and I would be in teh poor house again if I had to survive on my SSD only. I would manage, though I guess. At least there are two of us now paying the bills. WE both live like we are poor, as that is how we have extra money for thing like tirps to see/ride steamtrains, and have a hoby like model RRing. Plus his father and my father occasionally give us cash gifts atht help us along.
MIND YOU ALL...I had worked 2 jobs at a time, all the time in my working life from 17 til 35 years of age, prior to becoming unbearably disabled, a combination of mental illness and physical illness. SO I worked, I payed my SS taxes and when I needed it, SSD was there like it is supposed to be for anyone who becomes or is disabled. My fear now, is that with cut backs with SS that i may get cut out of the system and or have my benefits greatly reduced. I can not concieve going back to work now, companies will hire "token " disabled people, but most places will not hire someone who has spentthe last 8 years on disability.
I DO feel sorry for Ken if his wife cannot control her spending, though. At least I don't have that problem.
I feel sorry for those who have lost their homes and are in tents on the edge of town living off gruel everyday.
WEll, enough dpressing stuff, I have the train nut friend of ours coming today. I wrapped his xmas presents. Trains stuff, of course. A Maywood station, a pickup vegetable dealer who sells out of his pickup and some people to populate his station, all in HO ofcourse...
well gotta run.
AHvea great day